The Coeur d’Alene City Council gave its Water Department a booster injection Tuesday, unanimously approving an agreement with La Riviere Construction to build the city’s new $2.6 million water administration building.

“This is pretty much the future of the department,” Water Superintendent Terry Pickel said. “This will give us a stable place where we can grow and meet the expectations of city customers.”

The current Water Department facility offices and workshops share the same space on the 3800 block of Ramsey Road with a fire station, a training tower and a police station. Pickel presented to the council that, as the fire, police and water departments grow, all three will require more space. The new 4.5-acre plot on Howard Street will hold a 25,000-square-foot steel span facility, which will house equipment, serve as maintenance bays and support administrative needs.

“I hope this facility lasts them a lifetime,” Council Member Dan Gookin said before the council meeting. “The water department does such a great job here. They’re a department you don’t really hear about, but they’re always fast to [react to] any problems that may arise. They’re really on the ball.”

“I think [the new facility] is necessary,” Council Member Woody McEvers agreed. “They’re a department that has always made do with what they have, but now they’re thinking about the future … They really are a tremendous asset to the community. Our rates are still probably the best around, and our water is some of the cleanest to come out of any tap.”

The cost of the building will not be passed on to consumers, Pickel said, because the construction money is coming from the Water Department’s reserves.

“This gives people better accessibility to the Water Department itself,” Pickel said. “We’ve had this in the works for more than three years now. I’m thankful for the city’s support on this. This has been a long time coming.”